1. Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania
Chapter 6
Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania

2. Early Mesoamerican societies, 1200 B.C.E.-1100 C.E.

3. Origins of Mesoamerican Societies
Migration across Bering land bridge?
Probably 13,000 BCE, perhaps earlier
By sea from Asia?
By 9500 BCE reached southernmost part of South America
Hunter/Gatherer societies
evolve into agricultural societies

4. Olmecs 1200-100 BCE The “Rubber People” Ceremonial Centers Olmec Heads
San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes
Olmec Heads
Up to 10 ft tall, 20 tons
Transported by dragging, rolling on logs
1000/workers per head

5. Agriculture and Herding
Staple: maize
Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs
Both food
No draft animals
No development of wheeled vehicles

6. Olmec Society Probably authoritarian in nature
Large class of conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites
Also tombs for rulers, temples, pyramids, drainage systems

7. Mysterious Decline of Olmecs
Ceremonial centers destroyed
No evidence of warfare
Revolution?
Civil war?

8. Maya huge cities discovered in 19th c. 300 BCE-900 CE Terrace Farming
Cacao beans
hot chocolate
Currency
Major ceremonial center at Tikal

9. Maya Warfare Warfare for purposes of capturing enemy soldiers
Ritual sacrifice of enemies
Enslavement
Small kingdoms engage in constant conflict until Chichén Itzá begins to absorb captives
Some nevertheless choose death
Center of empire develops

10. Mayan Ritual Calendar Complex math
Invention of “Zero”
Calendar of days (17 seconds off)
Solar calendar of 365 days
Ritual calendar of 260 days
Management of calendar lends authority to priesthood
Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture

11. Mayan Language and Religion
Ideographs and a syllable-alphabet
Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors
Deciphering work begins in 1960s
Popol Vuh: Mayan creation myth
Importance of bloodletting rituals
Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow
Self-mutilation of penises, earlobes

12. The Maya Ball Game Ritual form of ball game
High-ranking captives, prisoners of war contestants
Execution of losers immediately follows the match
Bloodletting ritual for the gods

13. City of Teotihuacan Highlands of Mexico
Lakes in area of high elevation
Village of Teotihuacan, 500 BCE, expands to become massive city
Important ceremonial center
Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas
Begins to decline c. 650 CE, sacked in middle of 8th century, massive library destroyed

14. Andean Societies Migration into South America c. 12000 BCE
Climate improves c BCE
Largely independent from Mesoamerica
Highly individualized due to geography

15. Chavin Cult New religion in central Andes, 900-300 BCE
South America, contemporary Peru
Little known about particulars of religion
Intricate stone carvings

16. The Mochica State Valley of the Moche River
Dominated northern Peru, CE
Painting survies
One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire

17. Early societies of Oceania, 1500 B.C.E.-700 C.E.

18. Oceania Prehistoric land bridges, lower seas permit migration
Outrigger canoes for open-sea travel
Early hunter-gatherer societies in Australia
Early agriculture in New Guinea

19. Aborigine of the Naomi Tribe

20. Lapita Peoples Found throughout Pacific Islands
Agriculture, animal herding
Political organization based on chiefdoms
Trade over open ocean declines 500 BCE
Greater independence of settlements